In part 2 of a program first broadcast live on the radio show in 2018, we continue our chat about growing fruit in cold climates with Dr. Ieuan Evans, a forensic plant pathologist and a former Provincial Plant Pathologist for Alberta Agriculture.

Along with his work in plant pathology, Evans is passionate about growing fruit in cold climates.

In this segment, he talks about edible mountain ash, plums, pears, apples, damsons, and apricots. And we talk about how he grows figs in Edmonton.

“Growing fruit on the prairies is not a problem at all—you just have to take a new angle.”

Fruit Varieties for Cold Climates

Evans says there are many cold-adapted and delicious varieties of plums, apples, pears, and apricots suited to his zone.

But because he does not live in a fruit-producing region, it’s up to amateur growers to promote and share the varieties.

“I could take you to gardens here where the plums are superior to anything you could buy in the store.”

He notes that many people think sour cherries are inferior to the less cold-hardy sweet cherries. To that he says:

“ A sour cherry’s got all the flavour…It’s like comparing water to wine.”

Edible Mountain Ash

While mountain ash is normally grown as an ornamental tree, Evans has found and shared a columnar variety of mountain ash with sweet, edible fruit.

Grow Figs

Evans talks about his fig plants, which he grows indoors under a skylight over the winter.

Greenhouse

In addition to growing cold-adapted fruit varieties outdoors, Evans grows more tender crops, such as his ‘Red Haven’ peaches, in pots in his greenhouse.